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Photo of a Pinto Abalone

Species profile

Pinto Abalone

Haliotis kamtschatkana

AbaloneIUCN: Endangered2.5K iNat observations

Identify Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 3 jurisdictions.

At a glance

Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) is an IUCN Endangered abalone regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.

Confirmed by 2,321 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Alaska, and California the top jurisdictions by observation count.

Notable details

  • The northernmost abalone in the eastern Pacific, ranging as far north as Alaska.
  • Its mottled brown-and-white shell pattern gives the species its 'pinto' name.
  • Shell typically reaches about 6 inches (15 cm) at full size.
  • Thrives in cold, rocky subtidal habitats along the Pacific Northwest coast.
  • Populations have declined sharply due to decades of overharvesting.

Background

Haliotis kamtschatkana, common name the northern abalone or pinto abalone, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones.

Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pinto Abalone article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pinto Abalone?

Pinto Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) is an IUCN Endangered abalone regulated in 3 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.

What is the scientific name for Pinto Abalone?

Pinto Abalone is Haliotis kamtschatkana.

Is Pinto Abalone regulated for fishing?

Yes — Pinto Abalone has fishing regulations in 3 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.

How can I identify Pinto Abalone?

Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Pinto Abalone along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.

Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.